Fan attachment for rocking-chairs.



No. 708,905. Patented sepf. 9, I902.

J. 's. McKEEVE'B. FAN ATTACHMENT FOB ROCKING CHAIRS.

(Application filed Oct. 11, 1899.)

(No Model.)

UNIT D STARS JACOB S. MCKEEVER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

FAN ATTACHMENT FOR ROCKING-CHAIRS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 708,905, dated September 9, 1902.

Application filed October 1111899| Serial No. 733,258. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JACOB S. MOKEEVER, a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Fan Attachments for Rocking-Chairsyhf which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of an improved form of fan attachment for rocking-chairs adapted more particularly to be operated by rocking the chair, but which may also be operated by hand either by the occupant of the chair or by another person without the necessity of rocking the chair.

My invention is fully illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a View in elevation of a rocking-chair with my improved form of fan attachment connected therewith. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view of the bracket and bearings for the fan-shaft, taken on the line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a detail of the invention, taken on the line 3 3, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the fan-bracket, showing the means of connecting the fans thereto; and Fig. 5 is a modification of a part of my invention.

This invention relates to the well-known class of rocking-chairs provided with fan attachments, and includes, in addition to the automatic means for rotating the fan, which are operated when the chair is rocked, a handlever, whereby the fan may be rotated in case the occupant of the chair does not desire to rock the same or in case an invalid is occupying the chair, in which latter instance the fan mechanism may be operated by an attendant. In this connection it may be well to state that the hand-operated mechanism can be used alone and may be applied to any kind of chairs now in common use, whether provided with rockers or not.

In Fig. 1, A A represent the fans, which are carried by a bracketB, secured to the end of a short shaft or spindle G. This shaft 0 is mounted in ball-bearings c c in a supporting-bracket D, carriedby a rod or standard E, to which said bracket D is secured by means of a thumb-nut d, the rod E-being preferably mounted in one of the side posts F of chair. The shaft or spindle G carries a grooved pulley C, over which a cord or belt 0 passes, and by which means a rotative movement is given to the shaft and the fans carried by the same. This cord or beltis connected at one end to a lever G, pivotally mounted in ball-bearings at g to one of the rockers H of the chair, and the opposite end of the cord is connected to a spring K, hung to the rocker H at 70. The lever G carries at "its forwardend a roller g, so as to reduce the friction of this moving part as it contacts with the floor in rocking andincrease the efficiency of the means for operating the fan.

The forward movement of the rocking-chair raises the forward end of this lever G, and thereby depresses the rear end of the same, and the cord or belt 0 is drawn around the pulley in one direction, rotating the fans in the same direction. When the chair rocks back, the spring K will draw the cord or belt 0 in the opposite direction, and the fans will be rotated correspondingly.

To operate the fans by hand, I provide the bell-crank lever M, pivotally mounted in ballbearings at m to one of the rounds of the chair, the short arm of said lever being connected to the forward end of the lever G by means of a short link m. By moving this lever M back and forth the fans may be rotated without the necessity of rocking the chair. This hand-operated attachment may also be fitted toother chairs not provided with rockers or may be combined with a crib, bedstead, lounge, or other sleeping or resting place.

The bracket B, carrying the fans, is provided with arms I), having longitudinal depressions terminating in sockets 19, adapted to receive the handles a of the fans. The ends of the handles fit into the sockets b in the arms, and retaining-clips a at the end of each arm are provided to secure the said handles in place. In some instances it maybe desirable to fasten the fans together, and this may be done by putting small rivets through thefans at the point where they overlap.

The rod or standard E is round, and the bracket D, carrying the fan-shaft, is secured to this rod by means of a thumb-screw d. This construction provides for movement of the bracket on the rod and the adjustment of the fans at any angle desired in respect to the back of the chair, the thumb-screw securely holding the bracket in position when adjusted. The rod E is long enough to pro vide support for the bracket B should it be necessary to raise the latter and the fans in case the tension of the spring K decreases and causes the cord or belt to slacken. By this arrangement the fans may be kept at all times in operative condition.

To reduce friction and facilitate the rotation of the fans, I provide ball-bearings for the fan-spindle, (clearly shown in Fig. 2, which bearings are carried by the bracket D.

Fig. 3 represents a sectional view of one of the ball-bearings used in connection with the lever G and bell-crank lever M. By the use of ball-bearings with these elements and with the fan-shaft the latter becomes very sensitive to any pull of the cord or belt, and hence the fans are very easily operated. By mounting a small wheel or roller at the end of the operatinglever G to contact with the floor there is very little resistance to the same when the chair is rocked, and by the use of such a roller for this lever and ball-bearings for its pivotal connection to the chair all frielion is reduced, and the efficiency of the fan mechanism is greatly enhanced.

Instead of connecting the bell-crank lever M to the lever G in the mannershown in Fig. 1 I may dispose the short arm of this lever in the opposite direction, as shown in Fig. 5. By this arrangement a direct downward push is given to the long arm of the lever G.

Although I have shown and described the rod or standard E as being mounted in one of the side posts of the chair, I do not wish to limit myself to such construction, as this rod claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The combination with a rocking-chair, of a fan-carrying spindle capable of being rotated, fans carried thereby, an adjustable bracket secured to one of the side posts of the chair and in which said spindle is mounted, ballbearings for said spindle carried by the bracket, a pulley mounted on said spindle, a lever pivotally mounted on one of the rockers of the chair and having one end contacting with the floor, a spring having one end secured to one of the chair-rockers, a cord connected to the opposite end of the spring and to the high end of the lever, said cord passing over the pulley of the fan-carrying spindle, a hand-lever pivotally mounted on one of the rounds of the chair, and a slotted link connecting said levers whereby the lever in contact with the floor may be vibrated to operate the fans by the movement of the handlever, without the necessity of rocking the chair, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' JACOB S. MOKEEVER. \Vitn esses:

' MURRAY 0. Bovine,

J 0s. H. KLEIN. 

